‘BAKU-TBILISI-KARS RAILWAY PROJECT IS OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO AFGHAN GOVERNMENT’

“The Afghan government shows keen interest in the recently launched Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project and the opening of a new transit corridor to Europe through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey,” said Minister of Finance of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Eklil Ahmad Hakimi in his interview with AZERTAC.

Hakimi noted that “it is due to the result of recent negotiations between the heads of two states on the development of cooperation in various fields that today we are able to strengthen these relations”.

“I have come to Azerbaijan at the invitation of Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev to discuss a number of issues. The purpose of my visit is to held negotiations on the development of economic cooperation between Afghanistan and Azerbaijan. Over the past years, Azerbaijan has been providing assistance to Afghanistan in security, training, and other areas. On behalf of the Afghan government, I express my gratitude to the government of Azerbaijan.”

“During the visit, we will discuss the issues relating to various fields of economy, which will prove beneficial to both countries. We have already had discussions on a number of areas with Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev and we intend to continue them. I really hope that we will further strengthen the cooperation between our countries and this will contribute to the development of our bilateral," the Afghan minister said.

Hakimi also expressed his gratitude to the government of Azerbaijan for organizing the "Heart of Asia" – Istanbul Process (HoA IP) 7th Ministerial Conference under the motto "Security and Economic Connectivity towards a Strengthened Heart of Asia Region", which will be held in Baku on November 30-December 1, 2017.